Centennial defensive back Jaden Walk-Green (6) top, breaks up a pass intended for Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Harris (10) as he is hit by Centennial defensive back Cade Paterson (23) in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei linebacker Nasir Wyatt (31) strips sacks Centennial quarterback Husan Longstreet (4) as Mater Dei linebacker Abduall Sanders (32) defends in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei linebacker Nasir Wyatt (31) celebrates his strip sack of Centennial quarterback Husan Longstreet (4) with Mater Dei wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (4) in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (4) makes the touchdown catch over Centennial defensive back Boogie Williams (5) in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive back Cade Paterson (23) intercepts a pass intended for Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Harris (10) in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (4) makes the catch as Centennial defensive back Jaden Walk-Green (6) and Centennial defensive back Cade Paterson (23) tackle him in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive back Dean Gibson (28) runs for. Touchdown against Mater Dei in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive back Dean Gibson (28) runs for a touchdown against Mater Dei in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive back Dean Gibson (28) celebrates after scoring on a run against Mater Dei in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive back Jaden Walk-Green (6) top, breaks up a pass intended for Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Harris (10) as he is hit by Centennial defensive back Cade Paterson (23) in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei tight end Mark Bowman (19) has the ball knocked out of his hands by Centennial defensive back Charles Castille (24) in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei linebacker Nasir Wyatt (31) sacks Centennial quarterback Husan Longstreet (4) after a bad snap in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei linebacker Nasir Wyatt (31) steps over Centennial defensive back Dean Gibson (28) after recovering a fumble in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei quarterback Dash Beierly (9) is stoped at the goalie by Centennial defensive end Elijah Riley (1) and Centennial inside linebacker Hayden Zentner (48) in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei running back Kennie Leggett (28) is tackled by Centennial defensive end Elijah Riley (1) on a run in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei linebacker Dailon Clanton (9) tackles Centennial defensive back Dean Gibson (28) on a run in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive back Dean Gibson (28) runs for a first down as Mater Dei defenders tackle him in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei linebacker Dailon Clanton (9) and Mater Dei defensive back Ace Leutele (22) tackle Centennial quarterback Husan Longstreet (4) on a first down run in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei defensive back Daryus Dixson (8) intercepts a pass intended for Centennial wide receiver Tavian McNair (9) who fell on the play in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei defensive back Daryus Dixson (8) celebrates his pick six with Mater Dei linebacker Dailon Clanton (9) against Centennial in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial’s Cory Butler, Jr. (8) forces Mater Dei defensive back Danny Lang II (20) out of play after he intercepted a Centennial pass in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive back Cade Paterson (23) and Centennial inside linebacker Hayden Zentner (48) tackle Mater Dei’s Abduall Sanders (32) in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive back Boogie Williams (5) and Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Harris (10) exchange shoves in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive back Boogie Williams (5) is sent to the sidelines by an official after exchanging shoves with Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Harris (10) in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial inside linebacker Fifita Tauteoli-Moore (54) tries to pull down Mater Dei running back Ahmad King (33) on a run in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei defensive lineman Kye Duval (47) recovers and runs back a Centennial fumble in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial inside linebacker Fifita Tauteoli-Moore (54) tries to pull down Mater Dei running back Ahmad King (33) on a run in the second half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial fans try to stay warm as they watch the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Centennial defensive lineman Holden Strawn (97) cries as he hugs a coach after his last senior walk on the field after the 36-7 loss to Mater Dei in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Mater Dei defensive lineman Fernando Espana (75) prays before playing Centennial in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 30Centennial defensive back Jaden Walk-Green (6) top, breaks up a pass intended for Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Harris (10) as he is hit by Centennial defensive back Cade Paterson (23) in the first half of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand CORONA — Centennial and Mater Dei faced off exactly three months ago to begin the 2024 season. The latter won 42-25, but the former was missing its five-star quarterback in Husan Longstreet. “Honestly, we were afraid of him coming in. We thought their offense was tremendously improved because of him, from the first game,” said Mater Dei coach Raul Lara. “We needed to contain him and bottle him up.” But even with Longstreet present for Friday’s rematch, the Huskies couldn’t take down the nation’s No. 1 team. Centennial ended its season with a 36-7 loss at home in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. Mater Dei’s success was largely derived from its ability to capitalize on mistakes, as the Monarchs recorded 14 points off Husky turnovers while adding another 6 after a bungled punt. “You got to play almost perfect against them to execute just a play. One guy makes a mistake, then the play doesn’t function. It’s rough,” said Centennial coach Matt Logan. “Probably one of the best defenses we’ve ever played.” Mater Dei’s defense stuffed Centennial early, forcing a trio of three-and-outs and recording an interception across the Huskies’ first four drives. Yet the Monarch offense similarly struggled to build consistent drives, recording just a field goal across the first quarter-plus of play while quarterback Dash Beierly threw an interception of his own. Then came the fateful punt. Pinned deep in its own territory – a common theme for Centennial’s offense – a blown up punt handed Mater Dei the ball at the 1-yard line. Beierly promptly scored on second-and-goal to extend his team’s lead to 9-0. The Huskies’ only TD of the game came on the following drive. Running back Dean Gibson propelled his team into Monarch territory with an explosive 52-yard run before scoring from the 16. Down 9-7, the wheels had yet to come off. That wouldn’t be the case for long. Mater Dei scored on a short-field, 42-yard drive, but failed the two-point conversion to keep the game within one score. Just a few plays later, though, Longstreet was sacked by linebacker Nasir Wyatt and fumbled the ball where it was recovered by the Monarchs at the 4. An easy touchdown in hand, Mater Dei led 22-7 at half. “Even when it got to 22-7 I thought we were fine,” Logan said. “Fine” turned into a need to score shortly after the start of the second half. Now led by Furian Inferrera after an injury to Beierly, the Monarchs drove 79 yards and scored to open the third quarter and pull ahead 29-7. Related Articles High School Sports | California School for the Deaf-Riverside football team rallies past Flintridge Prep to win third straight section title High School Sports | Murrieta Valley football survives Oaks Christian to reach CIF Division 2 title game High School Sports | La Serna football cruises past Summit in CIF-SS Division 5 semifinal High School Sports | Warren football overpowers Yucaipa to clinch spot in Division 7 title game High School Sports | Julius Gillick, Edison football run over Vista Murrieta to reach CIF Division 3 title game “You get to the point where, ‘Hey, we got to generate something here, right? Pretty much everything we tried didn’t work,” Logan said. “We moved the ball a little bit, but not effective enough. Didn’t put it in the end zone.” Centennial finished the night with 22 more total yards than Mater Dei, but two more interceptions – one of which was returned for a touchdown – and a fumble extinguished any chances of a Husky comeback.